Controlling apparatus.



PATENTED MAY 29, 190 6.

w; mfimmma.

oomaomme APPARATUS.

APPLIGATIOR FILED J'ULYZ, 1903.

' w ere the Pan -' WALTER J.. RICHARDS, or lyiILWAUKEE,*WiSCGTtIEiN.

CONTBOLLENG APPARATUQH Specification of Letters Patent.

latented. ea, recs.

, Application filed July 2; 1903. Serial Ho. 164,085

To all]; whom it mar concern:

Be it known thatI, WALTER J Brazilians, a citizen of the Unitedstatearesiding at M11- waukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful. Improvement inControllmg Apparatus,'ofwh1ch the following is a full, clear,

concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart'of this s ecification.

My invention re ates to means for regulating the operation of fluid-pumps, such as aircompressors, and is particularl well adapted U for'use in con unction with sue rpumps when bfy'means of an electric motor and 1 o erated uid-pump 1s used for malntalnmg a substantially uniform or constant pressure in a pressure system.

. My'invention is peculiarly useful in conlunction with pneumatic-pressure systems supplied by an air-compressor driven an electric motor, the operation of the electric motor being controlled by-tlse pressure in the neumatic-pressure system.

odiment of my'inventionmcans are providedwhereby a decrease in the pressure in the pneumatic-pressure system to a certain mimmum limit causes the closure of the motor-circuit, whereby the motor is operated to drive the aircompressor, whereby the pressure/m the pneumatic systenrls lncreas'ed.

'Means are also proyided whereby the increase in the pressure to a certain maximum limit causes va break in the motor-circuit, whereby the motor and the air-compressor connected therewith are brought to rest;

Where such a combination as I'have above described is employed, it is frequently found desirable to provide an automatic rheostat- It is theprincipal ob'ect of-my invention -to provide ,an improye means for relieving or e creasingthe-load upon the electric motor at starting, whereby the motor anay ,be brou hi; substantially to full speed'before the full cad of; the air-compressor is. brought 'upon the motor. ,The :motor may thus be brought approximately, to full s eed 'thout an undue rush of current throug the otor windings, due to the heav load of t e air-- compressor when'dlscharging into the pres sure system, v

' the brush es 13 13.

in such an em- -a pressure-controllcd switching device 30. This switching device ccmprises a Bourdcn.

The features of my invent. apparent by reference to drawing, diagrammati essential featu In the draw a i or. stratcd pipe 1%, comprising a part of the ticpressure system, OOilllfldllLcl with p rage-tent: 2.. An air-compressor 3, com rising a cylinder at, a piston 5, c0nnectingrcd ('3, crank 7, tion-vaives 8 8, and discharge-valves 9 9,512; adapted to supply the storage-tank 2 with compressed air, the ipe 10 serving to convey the compressed air rrcm the compressor 3 tothe tank 2. The air-compressor 3 has geared 7o connection with a suitable motor means, such as an-electric motor 11, comprising an arma-.-' 1' ture 12, upon the commutator'of which ride The series field-winding of this motor is diagrammatica'll illustrated at 14. The series windin is directly connected by means of the con uctor with the electric main 16. Conductors 1'7 and lead 7 through the coils 1.9 and and the sections and. 22 of a resistance-coil-and thrimgh the winding 23 of a slow-acting eiectromagnetic switching device 2 to a contact-shoe 25, this contact-shoe being adapted when in on its alternate positions to make electric nection with the contact-shoe .28, it adapted for connection with the main 27 by means of the main switch The pipe 29 leads from. the pressure-reservoir 2 to tube 31, connected with the pipe 29, there being a switcher-n1 32, connectedfby means f of the link 33, with the end of the tube 3i.

The switclii-arm 32 is connected, by meanscf a conductor 34, with the hoe 25. is. contactpoint 35 is connected, through a conduct'orfifiand the solenoid 37, with the contact-shne26,

' and contact-point38 is connected, through the conductor 39 and the solenoid 40, with the electrical main 1.6 A soft iron plunger 4 is mounted to oscillate within the solenoids 37 and 40, this. lunger 41 carrying, by means oi an arm 42, t e insulated contact-shoe l When the pressure in the pressure system dro s to a minimum limit, the Bcurdcu tube 31 ecomes curved, thereby actuating the 'switclrarm 32 to make connection :with the 32, conductor 34, electromagnet-coil 23, resistances 22 and 21, solenoids 20 and 19, con- =ductor 18, conductor 17, brush 13, armature '12, brush 13, series coil 14, and conductor to the main 16. The closure of this circuit through-the solenoid 37 causesan energizetion thereof, whereby the plunger 41 is attracted toward the left, thereby bringing the contact-shoe 25 into engagement with the contact-shoe 26, thereby short-circuiting at once the solenoid 37 to cause the de'energization' thereof; The closure of the circuit through the solenoids and 19 causes an energization thereof, whereby thesoft-iron cores 43 and 44 are attracted upward to raise and hold the suction-valves 8 S from their seats.

The automatic rheostat, if such be provided, is now bperatedto cut the resistances 22 and 21 out of the mo 'rcircuit. This rheostat acts in the following manner: the electromagnetrcoil 23, beingincluded in the motor-circuit through c contact-shoes and 26, is energized, thereby causing the up- Ward attraction of the soft-iron core 45. The rapid movement of this'core is prevented by means of a dash-pot 46 or othensuitable re straining means. Switch-contacts. 47 are presently closed by the upward movement of the core 45, thereby short-cir'cuiting the section 22 of the resistance through the electromagnet-coil 48. The energization of this electromagnet-coil in turn causes the upward attraction of the soft-iron core 49 against the restraining influence of the dash-pot 50 to close the electrical contacts 51, whereby the section'21 of the resistance-is short-circnited.

The closure of the contacts 51 causes the electromagnet-coil 52 to be cut into the circuit, whereby the same is energized to cause the upward attraction of the core 53', the

v movement of this core being restrained by i the dash-pot 54. Switch-contacts 55- are controlled by the upward movement of the core 53 to short-circuit the solenoids 1 9 and 20, whereby the same are deener ized t6 permit the closure of the suction-Va ves of the aircom ressor 3.

T e slow-acting electromagnetic device 55, which may act in conjunction with the automatic iheostat comprisin net'c devices 24 and 56 and t .e resistances 22 and 21, permits a considerable speed of the motor 11 to be attained before the sucelectromagtion-valves 8 8 of the air-compressor are ermitted to operate. While the suction-Va ves 8 S are maintained in their open condition by the energization of the solenoids 19 and 20, there is no discharge from the air-compressor into the storage-tank 2, and the load upon the air-compressor is practically nothing. While the suction-valves8 8 are maintained in their open condition, the discharge-valves 9 9 of the compressor are not operated by the movement of piston 5 through the cylinder valves ispermitted. The resistances 22 and 21 may, if desired, be normally included in the motor-circuit to restrict the supply of current to the motor at starting, and in the preferred embodiment of my invention, in which such an automatic rheostat is employed, the slowacting electromagnetic device 55 is not included in the circuit until after the-resistances 22 and 21 have been short-circuited and cut out. The automatic rheostat, however, may be dispensed with, whereby the current at starting is not restricted by extraneous resistances. In this case the solenoids 20 and 19 may be desirably included in the circuitwith the slow-acting electromagnetic device adapted after the lapse of a suitable interval of whereby the valves of the compressor-may be operated to permit a discharge from the com pressor into the storage-tank 2. After the motor has operated for a suitable length of time the pressure in the tank 2 may be brought up to a maximum limit, whereby the Bourdon tube 31 will have been suffitime to short-circuit or cut out these solenoids,

ciently straightened to' cause the switch-arm 32 to make electrical connection with the contact 38, thereby closing a circuitthrough the solenoid 40, whereby thesame is energized to attract toward the right the softiron core 41. The actuation of this auto-' matic switching device causes a break in the circuit through the electric motor, whereby the same is brought to rest.

The deenergization of the electromagnetcoils 23, 48, and 52, which are also included in the motor-circuit, permits the cores 45, 49, and 53 to drop back into their normal positions, thereb opening the associated switchcontacts anr cutting the solenoids and the resistances 21 and 22 into the motor-circuit,

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that inany mddification's may be employed without departing from the spirit thereof, I do not, therefore, wish to limit myself to the precise disclosure herein set forth; but,

Having described'my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In combination, an electric motor, a fluid-pump driven thereby, a pressure system supplied by. said pump, switching means contro govern the circuit for saidmotor, and elec trical means for preventin the operation of the suction-valves of sai pum upon the closure of the circuit through sai motor.

2; In combination, an electric motor, a fiuid-pum driven'thereby, switching means for contro ling the circuit through said mo tor,

and electrical'mea'ns for preventing the o eration o'f'ithe valves of said pump upon t e closure ofthe circuit through said .motor.

3. In combination, an electric motor, a driven thereby, switching means for contro ling the circuit through said motor, and automatic electrical means for preventing the operation of a suction-valve of said pump during 'the initial supply of current to said motor.

4. In combination, an electric motor, an air-compressor driven thereby, a pressure system supplied by said alr-compressor, switching means governed by the pressure in said system to control the circuit through said inotor, and electrical means for preventing the operation of the valves of said compressor during the initial supply of current to said motor. I v

5. In combination, an electric motor, a fiuid pum driven thereby, switchin means for contro ling the circuit through sai motor, automatic electrical means for preventing theo eration of the valves of said pump during t e initial supply of current to said motor, and means iorpermitting the operation aid valves upon the lapse of a suitable interval after the closure of said motor-circuit. 6; In combination, an electric motor, a

fluid-pump driven thereby, a pressure 'system su plied by said pump, switching means pontro led by the pressure in said system to lose the motor-circuit upon a decrease in the pressure in said system to a minimum and to 0 en the motorcircuit upon anincrease in .,t e pressure in said system toa maximum limit, and electrical means for preventing the operation of the suction-valves of said ump upon the closure of the circuit throng said motor.- Y a f 7. In combination, an electric motor, a fluid-pump driven thereby, a pressure system su plied by said pump, switching means contro led by the pressure in said system to close the motor-circuit upon a decrease in the pressure in said system to a minimum limit and to open the motor-circuit upon an increase in the pressure in said system to a ed by the pressure in said system to' maximum limit, and electrical means for preventing the operation ofthe valves of said pump dliring the initial supply of current to said motor,

' 8; In combination, an electric 'motor, a fluid-pump driven thereby, a pressure system su plied by said pump, switching means contro ed by the pressure in said system to close the motor-circuit upon a decrease in the pressure in said system to a minimum limit and to open crease inthe ressure in said system to a maximum limit, means for preventing the o eration ofthe valves of said pum during t e initial supply of current to sait motor, and electrical means for permitting the operation of said valves upon the la se of a suitable interval after the closure 0 said motorcircuit'.

9, In combination, an electric motor, a fluid pump driven thereby, a 1plressure system supplied by said pump, switc trol trol the motor-circuit, means or restricting the supply of current to said motor at starting, means for reventing the operation of the valves of said pump upon the closure of the motor-circuit and electrical means for permitting the o eration of said valves upon the la se of a suitable interval after the 010-.- sure 0 said motor-circuit.

10. In combination, ,an electric motor, a fluid-pump driven thereby, a pressure system supplied by said pump, switching means control ed by the pressure in said s stem to control the motor-circuit, means or restricting the supply of current to said motor at starting, an electromagnetic means for preventing the operation of the valves of sald pump upon the closure of the motor-circuit.

supplied by said pump switc ng means control ed-by the pressure'm said s stem to control the motor-circuit, means or restricting ng means coned by the pressure 1n said s stem to con'v the motor-circuit upon an inroe 1 1'0 11. In combination, an electric motor, a. fluid-pump driven thereby, a ressure system rid the su ply of current to said motor at starting, e ectromagnetic means for preventing the operation of the valves of saidpum' upon the closure of the motor-circuit and ad dit ional electromagnetic means for permittin the operation of saidvalves after the remova 1 ofthe restriction of the supply of current to said motor; Q I 12. In combination, anelectric motorya" fluid-pump driven thereby, a ressure systenr sup lied by said pump, switc 'ng means control ed by the pressure in said system to con-- trol the circuit through said motor, means for restricting the supply of current'to said motor 'at starting, means for preventing ,the closure of the suction-valves of said pump upon the initial supply of current to said motor, and electrical means for permitting-the operation of said valves and for removing the restriction of the supply of current to said motor after the lapse of a -suitable interval after the closure of said motor-circuit,

13. In combination, an electric motor, a

I fluid-pump driven thereby, means for conmg means governed by trolling the motor-circuit, means for restricting the supply of current to said motor at starting, and means for preventing the oper ation of the valves of said pump upon the closure of the motor-circuit and for permitting the operation of said valves after the removal of the restriction of the supply of ourrentto said motor. a

14. In combination, an electric motor, av

fluid-pump driven thereby, means for controlling the motorcircuit, means for restricting the supply of current to said motor at starting, 6 trical means for preventing the closure of the suction-valves of said pump upon theinitialsupply of current to said 1no tor, and means for' .ermitting the operation of said valves and or removing the restriction of the supply of current to said motor after the lapse ofa suitable interval after the closure of said motor-circuit.

15. In combination, an electric motor, an

a1r-compressor driven thereby, a pressure system supphed by said ear-compressor, switchsystem to control the circuit for said motor,

acting electromagnetic mechanism an automatic rheostat in cuit upon the closure of the motor-circuit, means for preventing the operation of the valves of sald pump during the initial supply of current to said motor, and electrical means for permitting the operation of said valves u on the lapse of a suitable interval after the c osure of said motor-circuit.

16. In combination, an electric motor, a fluid-pump driven thereby, switching means for controlling the circuit through said motor-,a resistance normally included in the motor-circuit,automatic means for gradually cutting said resistance out of the motor-cirsaid circuit, electromagnetic mechanism normally included in the motor-circuit adapted upon the closure of the motor-circuit to prevent the o eration of the valves of said compressor, an a slowadapted to permit the operation of said valves after the lapse of a suitable interval aftenthe closure of said motor-circuit.

17. In combination, a fluid pump, a pressure system supplied thereby, motor means. 'ada ted to drive said )ump, means governed by t e pressure in sin the supply of energy to sald motor means,

, and means for automatically raising the suction-valves of said pump 0 ingthe initial supply of ener g to said motor means.

18. In combination, a fluid-pump, a pres-- sure system supplied thereby, motor means adapted to drive said pump, means i r control ing the supply of energy to said motor the pressure in said system for controllingtheir seats durmeans, and electrical means for automatically preventing the (:peration of the suctionva v es of said pump uring the initial supply of ener y to said motor means.

19. I n combination, an electric motor, a fluid-pum driven thereby, switchmg means initial supply of energy to saidmotor means,

and automatic means for allowing the operas tion of said suction-valves after the lapse of a suitable interval after the initial supply of. energy to said motor means.

22. In combination, a fluid-pump having discharge-valves, an electric motor to drive.

said pump to normally cause compression of the fluid therein, whereby said dischargevalves are actuated, and electrical mechanism adapted upon closure of the motor-circuit to prevent compression of v the fluid, wi: creb r said valves are rendered inoperati e.

23. n combination, a fluid-pump having discharge-valves, motor meaiL-s for driving said pump for normally causing compression LO Q of the fluid therein and actuation of said discharge-valves, and electrical mechanism adapted during the initial supply of'energy to said motor to automatically prevent com pression of'the fluid whereby said valves are rendered inoperative. a

24. In'combihatioma fluid-pump, an electric motor for driving said pump, a pressure system supplied by saidpump, switching means controlled by the pressure in. said system to close the motor-circuit upon a decrease 1n the pressure in said system to a minimum hnnt and to openthe motor-circuit upon an increase in the pressure in said system to a ma rimnm limit, and automatic electroniagnetic means adapted to prevent the operation of the suction-valves of said pump upon the closure of the motor-circuit. I 25. In combination, afiuid-pump having discharge valves, an electric motor for driv mg said pump to normally compress the fluid therein to cause actuation of said valves, a

pressure system supplied by said. pump",

switching means controlled by the pressure in said system to close the motor-circuit u on a decrease in the pressure in said 5 stem 0 a minimum limit, and

automatic e ectromagfor contro ling the motor-circuit, andautm scare"? netic .mechanism adapted upon the closure of the motor-circuit to prevent compression of fluid to render tiae valves inoperative) 26. In combination,

system to maximum automatic rheostat in the motor-circuit adapted to gradually sitort-circuit the resistances Formally included in the motor-circuit after the closure of the motor-circuit, electromagnetic mechanism normally included in v the motor-circuit adapted uporr-energization due to the closure of said int tor-cincuit to prevent compression of fluidand actuation of said valves, and a slow-acting electromag net-ic switching device adapted to be actuated upon the short-circuitlng oi the last of said resistances to short-circuit the solenoids of said electronmgnetic mechanism to allow compression of said fluid.

27. In combination, an electric motor, an air-compressor driven thereby, switching mechanism adapted to control the circuit for said motor, a slow-acting automatic rheostat in the motor-circuit adapted gradually to short-circuit resistances normally included in the motor-circuit after the closure of the motor circuit, electromagnetic mechanism normallyincluded in the motor-circuit adapted upon energization to prevent the operation of the suctioh-valves of said pump, and a slow-acting electromagnetic switching device adapted to be actuated after the lapse of a suitable interval of time to short-circuit the an air-compressor having discharge-valves, an electric motor sloW-actir g solenoids of said electromagnetic mechanism to permitthe actuation of said valves.

28. in combination, a fluid-pump having discharge-valves, an electric motor for driving said pump, a pressure system supplied by said pump, means governed by the pressure in said system to control the motor-circuit, actuation of said motor normally causing compression of fluid in said pump and actuation of said discharge-valves, electromagnetic mechanism normally includedin the motor-circuit adapted upon energization to prevent compression of fluid andactuation of said valves, and a slow-acting electromagnetic device included adapted to cause the deenergization ofsaid electromagnetic mechanism after the lapse of a suitable interval of time after the closure of the motor-circuit.

29; In combination, a fluid-pump having discharge-valves, an electric motor or same,

in the motor-circuit ing electromagnetic a pressure system supplied by'said pump, means governed by the pressure in said system to control the motor-circuit, operation of said pump normally causing compression of fluid therein and actuation o the discharig valves, electromagnetic mechanism inclu ed in the motor-circuit adapted upon ener ization to prevent compression of fluid an ac tuation of said valves, and a slow-acting electromagnetic device included in the motor.- circuit adapted to cause the denergization of said. electromagnetic mechanism after the termination of a limited period following the closure of the motor-circuit.

30. In combination, a fluid-pump having dischar e-valves, an electric motor for driving sai' pump, the fluid in said pump being normally compressed and said valves actuated, electromagnetic mechanism normally included in the motor-circuit, adapted energization to and actuation oi saidvalves, and a slow-actdevice included in the motor circuit, adapted to cause the denergi-' zation ofi sai electroma netic mechanism after thelapse of a suitab e interval of time after the closure of the motor-circuit.

31. In combination, a 'fluid-pump having dischargesvalves, an electric motor for drivingsaid pump for normally causing compression of fluid therein and'the actuation of said dischar e-valves, electromagnetic inechanism inc uded in the motor-circuit adapted upon energization to prevent compression of fluid and actuation of the valves, and a slow- I00 acting electromagnetic device included inthe motor-circuit adapted to cause the denergization of said electromagnetic mechanism af-. ter the lapse of a suitable interval of time after the closure of the motor-circuit. 32. In combination, an electric motor, a fluid-pump driven thereby, a pressure system supplied by said pump, means governed by the pressure in said system to control the motor-circuit, eluded in the motor-circuit adapted upon energization to prevent the operation of the suction-valves of said pump, and electrpma'gnetic means adapted to permit the operation of said valves after the lapse of a suitable in- 1 15 terval after the closure of the motor-circuit.

33. In combination, an electric motor, a fluid-pump driven thereby, a pressure sys-- tem supplied by said pump, switching means controlled by the control the circuit for said motor, electromagnetic mechanism included in the motorcircuit adapted upon ener ization to actuate the suction-valves of sai pump to prevent theoperation thereof, and slow-acting electror2 5 magnetic-switching devices adapted to shortcircuit and thereby cause the denergization of said electromagnetic mechanism to permit the operation of said valves.

34. In combination,

if revent compression of uldelectromagnetic means inno pressure in said system to r20 an electric motor, a 1 0 I fiuid-pump driven thereby, switching means for controlling the circuit through said motor, actua t1on of said pump normally causing I compression of fluid thereln and actuation of 5 the valves thereof, and electrical mechanism adapted upon the closure of the motor-circuit to prevent compression of fluid and the actuation of said valves.

35. In combination with an electric motor, to a -fiu1d-pump "driven thereby, switching means for controlling the circuit through said motor, the fluid in said pump beingnormally com ressed to cause actuation of the valves of t e ump, and automatic electrical 1.5 mecharnsma apted during the initial supply of current to said motor to prevent compres- SIOI). of fluid and actuation of the valves.

36'. In combination, a fluid-pump motor means for driving said pump, means er conzjo trolling the'supply of energy to said motor means, the fluid in said pump being normally compressed therein to cause actuation of the valves of the pump, and automatic electrical mechanism adapted during a suitable period following the initiation. of the supply of enelectrically-controlled means arranged to ergy to said motor means for preventing compression of fluid and the actuation of.

said valves. 1 v 37. In combination, an electric motor, a fluid-pump driven thereby, a pressure system su plied by said pump, switching means contro led by ,the pressure in said system to govern the circuit for said motor, and means associated with the suction-valves of said 35. pump andincluded in the motor-circuit for preventing the operation of said valves upon the closure of the circuit through said motor.

38. In combination, a fluid-pump, an electric motor driving said pump, a'pressure sys- 40 tom supplied by said pump, a controlling .valve for said pump, an electric circuit for said motor controlled by the pressure in said system, a resistance associated with the motor-c rcuit for restricting the-current-flow to 15 said motor, electromagnetic means controlled by the pressure in said system for removing.

said resistance from circuit, and means con- .tem sup lied by said tiona electromagnetic means for incapaci-.

tating said other electromagnetic means when said motor has reached normal speed whereb said valves become operative.

40. fluid-pump driven. thereby, a pressure sysum switching means positive y controlled hy tl ie pressure in said system to govern the circuit for said motor, and electromagnetic meansfor preventing the operation of the suction-valves of said pump upon closure of the circuit through said motor.

41. An unloader for an air-compressor and complete a circuit for o "crating the unloader to cause it to unload the compressor before thecompressor is started. p 42. An unloader for an air-compressor and electrically-controlled means for operating the unloader to cause it to unload the compressor before the compressor is started and to throw the load onto the compressor at a predetermined started. I v

, 43. An unloader for an air-compressor and electrically-operated means 'for controlling the unloader comprising a rheostat and an electromagnet forming part of the rheostat resistance. In witness whereof my name this 27th day of June, A. I). 1903 WALTER J. RICHARDS. Witnesses:

EMM'n HosFs, M. BLUMENFELD.

n combination, an electric motor, a-

point after the compressor is I hereunto subscribe 

